Dr. Nick Miszak

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Dr. Nick Miszak Wiss. Mitarbeiter Sozialanthropologie

Address Berner Fachhochschule
School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
Fachbereich Agronomie
Länggasse 85
3052 Zollikofen

I teach qualitative social science methodology, transdisciplinary research approaches to circular innovation and sustainability, intercultural competences, conflict analysis and natural resource management, drivers of innovation and development, as well as artificial intelligence and its social effects.
I supervise research projects that explore how people negotiate meaning, value, and cooperation in complex socio-economic settings. I am particularly drawn to participatory and transdisciplinary projects that critically engage with questions of value(s), reflexivity, sustainability, more-than-human sociality, and social transformation across cultural and institutional boundaries.

inter- and transdisciplinary research that provides support to peacebuilding, development and humanitarian actors
international cooperation in fragile and conflict affected contexts
resilience in response to human-induced and climate-change related hazards
conflict sensitivity and natural resource management
geo-politics and geo-economics
economic anthropology

My professional expertise builds on 20 years of experience with applied and academic research and conflict sensitive project management (CSPM) in fragile and conflict affected settings (FCAS). I produce contextually grounded, inter- and transdisciplinary research that provides support to peacebuilding, development and humanitarian actors. I have in-depth expertise of Afghanistan and its neighbours, and strong knowledge of Syria, the wider MENA region, and Burkina Faso.
I supervise research projects that explore how people negotiate meaning, value, and cooperation in complex socio-economic settings. My interests include qualitative approaches to resource and conflict studies, solidarity economies, tourism and mobility. I am particularly drawn to participatory and transdisciplinary projects that critically engage with questions of value(s), reflexivity, sustainability, more-than-human sociality, and social transformation across cultural and institutional boundaries.

Since Feb 2025 Research Associate and Lecturer Social Anthropology BFH-HAFL, Zollikofen
Since Aug 2014 Consultant self-employed
February 2023 - December 2023 Senior Analyst and Acting Team Leader ACAPS (NRC), Geneva
Jan 2018-Jan 2023 Senior Program Officer and Afghanistan Focal Point swisspeace, Basel
November 2016 - April 2018 Project Coordinator, BFH-HKB, Bern BFH-HKB, Bern
September 2012 — Juni 2014 Teaching Assistant and Webmaster Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies, Geneva
October 2007 - August 2011 Research Officer The Liaison Office, Kabul, Afghanistan

2018 PhD in Anthropology und Sociology Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
2006 MA Science of Societies (bilingual degree); Major in Sociology of Communication; Minors in Sociology and Political Economy University of Fribourg/Freiburg
1997 High School Diploma University High School, Irvine, California